William lewis henry



(No Model.)

W. L. HENRY.

PoTATo BIGGER.

PatentedJune Z2, 1886..

Unire TAMS- Y artnr rtree,

VILLIAM LEWIS HENRY, OF ATLANTIC, PENNSYLVANIA.

POTATO-DIGGR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,106, dated .Tune 22, 1886.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.- n

Be it known that I, WILLrAM Lewis HENRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic, in the county of Graw-` ford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Potato-Dig gers, of which the following` is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in potato-diggers; and the novelty consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts for service, substantally as hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings', Figure l represents a top plan View of a potato-digger embodying` my improvement. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation, one of the wheels removed to show details of construction. Fig. Srepresents a longitudinal section on the line .t x of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference denote similar parts, A designates the frame of the machine, consisting of broad side rails, a, that support the operative parts of the machine, and is mounted upon an axle, B, journalcd at its opposite ends, I) b, in wheels B ,2, one of which, B2, operates as a driving-wheel to give motion to the several operative parts of the machine, while the other merely fulfills the function of a hearing and supporting wheel. The former of said wheels; B2, is rigidly secured to the axle, preferably by a squared end, b2, formed upon the end of the axle that takes or extends into a square aperture formed through the wheel, and is held in position therein by a pin, b, that passes through an aperture formed through said square part b2, outside of the wheel B2. The sides or rails ct are spaced and held in parallel planes by transverse rails a a2 a3, that extend from one to the other of said side rails at the ends thereof. The former of said rails-to wit, a ct2-is located at the forward end of the machine, each having their opposite ends formed into projecting studs that pass through apertures formed in the side rails to and into the lower ends of upright studs A A2, placed at each side of the machine, and connected at their upper ends by a transverse rail, at

ai designates braces that extend from the upper ends of the uprights A A2 to points a' upon the upper surface of the rails a,

C designates a transverse rail that extends from one to the other of the braces a, near their lower ends, a, and supports at one end the rear end of a board or plank, d, having a seat, D, secured to its upper surface for the drivers use. y

E designates the pole or tongue of the machine, the rear end, e, of which is provided with lugs or ears c', that embrace the rail C at the middle thereof. The pole E extends forward through a slotted standard, E', the sides of which are apertured to receive a pin, e2, by which the forward ends of the rails a and digger-forks between said rails are held at different desired distances from the ground. The forward end of the seat-board d rests upon a rail, d, that extends from the standard E to the upright A for its reception.

F designates the side rails of the digger tines or teeth, said rails being located within the rails a of the frame A, at the forward ends thereof, and extending from the lower transverse rail, a2, rearwardly and upwardly, and held in position by an apertured bar or rail,

f, the ends of which enter apertures f formed in the side rails, a.

F designates tines or teeth,preferably formed of steel rod or wire, the rear ends of each of which are provided with partsj of less diameter than the body of the tines that enter and are secured in the apertures of the bar f, as shown. rIhe teeth extend forward beyond the rail a, and when the machine is in motion pass below the potatoes, raising the same, together with the earth surrounding them, upon the upper surface of the tines or teeth FQ between which the earth falls, while the continued forward movement of the machine carries the potatoes to a traveling carrier-belt, G, mounted upon and operated by rollers g g', the former of which is journaled in the side rails, o, near the rear transverse rail or bar, f, while the latter, g, is journaled in said rails a in rear of the axle B.

g2 g designate rails that extend from one to the other of the rails a, between the rollers g g', to support a scraper-plate, g", the opposite ends of which impinge against the surfaces of the rollers g f/,to prevent dirt passing between the rolls and the belt thereon,

IOO

G designates an endless carrier-belt that is mounted upon and operated by the rollsg g',

as above setvforth. i 1 l g5 designates cleats secured transversely of the belt Gr to the outer surface thereof, and

projecting at each edge of said belt, as shown at g". The projecting ends gG are provided with forwardly-:projecting portions ghwhiclr extend nearly to the next adjacent cleat, thereby leaving openings between the ends of the cleats, (which project beyond the sides of the belt G,) through which the dirt may drop as it becomes loosened from the potatoes as they are carried rearwardly.

H designates an inclined chute having ends h secured to the side rails, a, at the inner surfaces and rear ends thereof, toreceive the potatoes when` they drop vfrom the carrier and guide them toa box, H, at the rear end of the chute. ,A ,A v h designates a slot formed in the ch ute transverselyof the same, through whichanyurev maining adheringv earthmay pass, while the potatoes, being too large to pass through lthe slot,pass over the same, and are delivered into thebox H. f, D8 designates a board held in slots gg in vertical position at the rear ends of the rails a.

Motion is imparted to the beltG in the following manner, viz:4 K designates a spur-gear wheelmounted upon the axle nea-r the wheel B2 and moving in unison therewith. K designates a gear-pinion mounted upon the projectingjournal of the rear rolLg, at one .end thereof, and engaging with and rotated by the spur-wheel K. l

The depth tovwhich the digger-teeth enter the earth is regulated and determined bythe pin e2 and slotted standard E, as hereinbefore stated, the pine, after being adj usted to thede'- sired aperture in the standard E, resting upon the upper surface of the pole or tongue. v

Toraise the forward end of thenrails a, I employ a lever, L, fulcrumed tothe side of thetongue within easy reach of the driver, and a cord or chain, Z, one end of which is secured at Z to the lever, ,and passes thence over a pulley, Z2, to an eye or staple, Z3, secured in the transverse rail a of theframe A.

f :The operation of my device will be fully understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings attached hereto.

I claim-- l. Ina potato-digger, a frame, A, having side rails, a, transverse rails a a2 a3, uprights Af A2, and braces a5, in combination with forwardlyand downwardly projecting teeth or tines F', located at the forward part of the frame, carrier-beltG, chute H, and the axle and wheels Whereon the machine is mounted, substantially `asY described.

2. In a potato-digger, a frame, A, having side rails, a, transverse rails a a2 a3, uprights vA A2, provided with transverse rail a"t and braces a5, in combinationwith rollers q y', journaled'in said rails a,.belt G,mounted upon said rollers and provided with transverse cleats'g, teethortines F, secured to transverse `rails f a2, chuteIL, having slot 7LA and box H', and Ithe wheels B B, substantially as described.

3. In a potato-digger, the frame A, having rails a, transverse rails c a2 a3, uprights A. A2, braces a5, transverse rail a, and slotted standard AEin combination with a tongue, E,lever L, cordl, and pulley Z2, substantially as' described. v y

4. 'In a potato-digger, a carrier -belt, G, mounted upon rollers gg', and having transverse cleats g5, in combination with a scraperplate, gf, located between and impinging upon ,said rollers, substantially as described.- Y 5. kIn 4a lpotato-digger, a frame', A, having uprights Af A2, slotted standard E', provided with ltransverse apertures and drivers seat D, incombination withthe leverL, its cord Z', pole or tongue E, axle B, and wheels B B2.

, In testimony that I claim theY foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM LEWIS HENRY;

' Witnesses: V l `i rR. MAXWELL,

GEO. STEvnNsoN. 

